first

first

first!

first!

zing!

figgity first!

WilmerHale where are you?

First. And Weil matched too.

I OWN THIS BOARD

first!

This is not lockstep, right? It can't be - awarded only to associates performing at or above the level expected by the Firm. What is the hours requirement? 2000?

Only NY associates???

the race to first on this thread is nothing short of remarkable.

anyone know off the top of their head what last year's bonus was for the class of 2005 (people who had just finished their first year)? $30,000?

typical W&C move - bonuses are quite subjective in their non-NY offices.

http://sfist.com/2007/11/06/suicide_attempt.php

Today, a little before noon, a suicide attempt occurred at Hastings Law School.

This is not lockstep, right? It can't be - awarded only to associates performing at or above the level expected by the Firm. What is the hours requirement? 2000? And note "individual decisions"....

Weil just matched.

4:57(2) -- 35K

Nice job typing 'first,' dipshits.

Kudos to W&C doing the absolute minimum here. Wait until some market announces, then match. If only the firm had the balls to announce something, anything, for other cities.

Ok, so here goes... There is first, and, then, there is first on a bonus thread. If you can get first on a bonus thread, that means something.

Congratulations 4:53(A)!

I aspire to be like you.

I OWN THIS BOARD

First!

FIRST

habitual-list-of-shame-poster where are you

yeah but who cares about non-NY associates. They don't really count anyway.

Do most NYC BigLaw associates at the firms that have matched bill at least 2300 a year?

That is one cold memo. No thanking associates for a remarkable year. Just here is your damn money. The last sentence is great -- if we fire you before you get the bonus, F U.

Class of 2005 was $35,000 last year, generally. At Ropes in Boston it was $40K (to eliminate the $5K gap between NYC and Boston associates). Time to get paid!

yeah but who cares about non-NY associates. They don't really count anyway.

last year '05 was 35k

What about the non-NY offices? Have the other firms that awarded "special bonuses" done so only in NY?

5:05 -- No, there is a second page to the memo that has the requisite words of thanks:

"2007 has been another great year for the Firm. I would like to thank each of you personally for your efforts and contributions."

Weil and Skadden are paying their full base/bonus in all domestic offices (including Dallas, Houston, Austin [TX] and Wilmington, DE).

LAST!

last

Most of the top NY Firms will pay their bonuses to all their branch offices. Skadden, S&C, DPW etc. are all equal across the board.

wow, that is one cold ass letter. you can feel the anger dripping off the page. they might as well have written "by the way, we hate doing this, and if we werent in such a rat race with the competition, we wouldnt."

very glad i skipped over my W&C callback.

wow, that is one cold ass letter. you can feel the anger dripping off the page. they might as well have written "by the way, we hate doing this, and if we werent in such a rat race with the competition, we wouldnt."

very glad i skipped over my W&C callback.

FIRST!!

What happened to the Weil and Cadwalader posts?

i've already forgotten how to spell her name...

Guaranteed Bonus firms (year-end and special in NYC):

Cahill
S&S
Wilkie
Davis
Milbank
Cravath
S&C
Clifford Chance
Simpson

I left off Skadden b/c it has that "reasonably busy" language and others have said there is a 1600 hours requirement.

W&C is awesome. Glad you skipped that callback.

Two points:

1) I agree with the comments made about how people in non-NY markets are quick to point out about how stupid associates in NY are to be spending $4000/month on a closet while they have all their loans paid off, 2 BMWs, a 5000 square foot house and country club memberships as third year associates by living in Dallas/Phoenix/Milwaukee, etc.. I agree, by the way that there are HUGE benefits to lving in those cities. I myself cringe every month when I have to write out my rent check. It is funny to me though how all non NY associates start freaking out and yelling bloody murder when NY firms with satellite offices don't pay NY market bonuses to EVERY freaking office. All of a sudden the same people who are quick to call people idiots for living in NY are bitching about how it is so unfair that they don't get paid as much. Live with it!!!!

2) I disagree with the posts about how some firms are cheap because they put all kinds of qualifiers in their bonus memos such as "associates in good standing" or things of that nature and do not guarantee the same bonus for everyone. I am sure, and I have heard this directly from friends, that firms will very quickly NOT give you a full bonus if you are billing, e.g. 1400 hours a year. I doubt there is such a things as "nice" firms who give $50-90 grand bonuses to EVERYONE just because they are "nice" and "not nice" and "cheap" firms who require you to actually work a certain number of hours of work or not be an idiot who can't get anything done to give you your full bonus. I'm sure when it comes down to it, every firm will be quick to screw with someone's bonus if they slack off or don't do their job well. It works for them because it is a way to tell an associate to find a new job without the uncomfortable "maybe it is time you look into other options" conversation.

If Skadden, SullCrom, Willkie, and Clifford can spread the love at least to DC, why can't White & Case?

6:58

Couldn't have said it better myself. Agreed absolutely.

I'm a 5th year associate in a satellite Weil office. 99% of the associates receive the "overall strong" bonus (that just means that you didn't screw up or bill less than half as much as the average). About 33% receive the "distinguished" bonus, which makes Weil significantly above the top of the market, especially in non-NY offices. Last year, my distinguished bonus was $20K and I billed 2100 hours.

7:04, see 6:58 and ban yourself.

6:58, What about London? 2x as expensive as NYC, and looks like some BigLaws are leaving London associates high-n-dry.

am I FIRST!? or what?

EMORY LAW SCHOOL RULES!

@ 5:17

Moron, that's what all W&C memos look like. Standard practice. Would it make your panties less wet if I told you that they were distributed with hershey's kisses?

And not just the regular ones, but the ones with almonds inside.

Idiot.

festering TTT

5:05 - The memo contains standard language that is seen every year and (in addition to glossing over the thank you language at the end) the part you seem to object to is directed at those people who think that if they give notice over the holidays they'll somehow still get paid their bonus. Firings at W&C are few and far between.

And 5:17, looks like we dodged a bullet, thanks for not stopping by.